District 1 Fire Chief, Kris Darby, Resigns

POMEROY-The Garfield County Fire District (GCFD) Commissioners accepted the resignation of Fire Chief Kris Darby in an emergency meeting held December 31, 2019, according to Commissioner Aaron Stallcop. The resignation was effective immediately, and Officer Kyle Pearson has been appointed as the interim Fire Chief until a new full-time EMT can be hired and fully trained. Stallcop stated that Darby was not asked to resign.

Darby has moved from the Pomeroy area and currently resides at his family ranch in Waitsburg, Wash. Via a telephone interview, Darby shared that he will be pursuing another career. He stated that he had been considering the move for several months, and has "lots of prospects," including a position as a dispatcher, a management position at Hanford, or an administrative position at a Walla Walla hospital. He admitted that the decision to leave the GCFD had been building for a while and "it was just time" to make a move. He offered to come back for 30 days to assist the GCFD in the transition, but the details could not be worked out.

"I had a great ten years" there and was able to work with some "great people," Darby said.

There will be more details to work out and discuss, according to Stallcop, which will most likely be done at the next regular meeting of the GCFD, January 14, 2020, at the fire station, 5 p.m.